Railway-torpedo.



E. A. SCHOULEY,

RAILWAY TORPEDO.-

(Appli'ation filed Jan 10, 1900.)

(No Model.)

WITNESSES 2 6 INVENTOR w I I 7 7 5M MM 244%,

- 7% ey @w v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD A. SGHOOLEY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO SOHOOLEY-MOOLURE COMPANY, OF SUTERSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, A

COPARTNERSHIP.

-RAlLWAY-TORPEDO.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 691,826, dated January 14, 1902.

Application filed January 10, 1900. Serial No. 959. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD ALLAN 801100 LEY, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, (whose post-office address is Sutersville, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania,) have invented a new and useful Improvement in Railway-Torpedoes, of which the following is a full, clear and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 shows in vertical central section a railway-torpedo constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a partial view thereof, similar to Fig. 1, but on a larger scale. Fig. 3 is a top plan view, partly broken away. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view illustrating the attachment of the flexible strap to the torpedo. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing a modified construction. Fig. 6 is a modification.

As shown in the drawings, the fulminate composition is contained in a case made preferably of two pieces of sheet metal 2 3, constituting, respectively, the top and base, having marginal flanges which are interlocked, as at 4, the flange of the bottom piece extending outward and being reflexed over the flange of the top piece, and inside the case there is preferably abottom lining 5, of paper or like material, formed with an inturned marginal flange, which extends inwardly within the walls of the case, the whole constituting a substantial and waterproof device.

The strap 6, by which the torpedo is secured to the rail and which is preferably made of lead on account of its easy flexibility, is applied to the case as follows: The bottom piece 3 is formed with holes 7 7, preferably of D form, and the strap is passed through them, passing into one slot and out of the other and resting between the holes on the inner surface of the bottom piece 3 between it and the lining 5. In the modification illustrated in Fig. 5 I form between the holes 7 7 two other holes 8 8 and pass the strap alternately through the-four holes, as shown. In both Figs. 4 and 5 the strap is held firmly in place between the bottom piece and the inner lining, and a cheap, substantial, and verydurable'construction is obtained.

By the word hole as herein used I mean a substantial perforation as distinguished from a mere slit or cut.

My mode of attachment requires no machine-work to fasten the strap to the case, and the case is peculiar in that the bottom piece (or, if desired, the top piece) can be made complete in such manner that the strap can be attached without any other mechanical operation. My strap need not be made as wide as the holes, and I can therefore use straps of greatly-varying widths without altering'the stamping-dies.

It will be observed that by reason of the weaving action of the strap through the perforations as aforesaid, whereby the metal edges of the perforation are caused to bite into the softer strap in opposite directions, the case is caused to be locked upon said strap. Further, the perforations being, as shown in my preferred form, of a semicircular shape, the line of bite is greatly increased, thus greatly increasing the locking action thereof, with a corresponding decrease in danger of fracture.

In Fig. 6 I show a modified construction in which the holes 7 7 are formed in the top piece and the strap passed through the same between the top piece and the inner lining 5, which in this instance is reversed, fitting on the inner surface of the top piece and having a downwardly-extending marginal flange.

I claim 1. A torpedo having a top piece and a bottom piece, one of said pieces having a flat continuous surface free from struck-up portions,

and provided with a plurality of holes within its circumference, a metal strap extending through said holes, and an inner lining whose outer face contacts with the strap; substantially as described.

2. A torpedo having a top piece and a bottom piece, the bottom piece being flat and having all the parts lying in substantially the same plane, a pair of holes cut through the said bottom piece within its circumference, and a strap extending through the holes and having its bent portion lying within the case; substantially as described.

3. A torpedo having a top piece and a bottom piece, the bottom piece having its face therein in they flat face, and within its circumference, the metal strap extending through the holes and having a bent portion lyingvwithin the case, and a flanged lining having its bottom resting upon the inner bent portion of the strap; substantially as described. c

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

EDWARD A. SCHOOLEY. 'Witnesses:

H. M. OORWIN, GEO. B. BLEMMING. 

